I. Members Present:

Ann McMackin	Bill Benvie	ShirleyBrunsman
Amy Vonderhaar	Patty Hadden	Michael Vilaboy
Anita Bidleman	Joe Zins	Donna Patterson

II. Ex Officio Members Present

Fr. Jack

Kevin Vance

Chris Siciliano

 

III. Members Absent

Jodie Bender

Jan McManus

 

IV. Opening Prayer

1. Father Jack shared the reading

2. Discussion followed about sharing with others our gifts and talents

V. Welcome

1. Joe welcomed new members Donna and Ann

2. Jodie and Jan were unable to attend due to the change in dates

 

VI. Minutes from June 15, 2000 Meeting

1. Modified that Bill Benvie was absent.

2. Ann motioned to accept the minutes; Shirley seconded

 

VII. Pastor's Report - Fr. Jack

1. Mr. Brown spoke to the Parish Pastoral Council on Sunday September 10, 2000 to help set goals.

2. Parish mission November 6 &endash; 9

3. Remember Mike McMahon's father who is very ill

4. Stewardship is going well

5. Still paying off the new roof and the computers for the school

 

VIII. Goals

A. Goals for Education Commission 2000 &endash; 2001

1. Members were asked to brainstorm for ideas.

2. Ideas were grouped into 4 main categories.

3. Members were asked to be part of a goal committee, and each group will meet for a given period of time during the regular Education Commission meeting to discuss their specific goal and report back to the full Commission.

4. Groups and Members;

a) Representative of parish adult faith (e.g., develop and publicize adult formation programs)

Bill, Chris, Joe and Shirley

b) Communications (e.g., study methods to communicate our services to the community; develop methods of communications with parents; find means to welcome newcomers to our school and parish; actively encourage involvement in the school and parish)

Kevin, Ann and Amy

c) Resources &endash; People and gifts (e.g., update the parish census cards to reflect information about talents and abilities; develop strategies for dealing with teacher shortage in school and PSR; develop plan for future school structures and the future of students and education; increase diversity of staff and families involved in the parish and school)

Anita, Mike, Jodie and Father Jack

d) Policies (e.g., identify all relevant parish educational policies, handbooks, etc.; examine school handbook areas that were not addressed in the revision completed over the summer)

Patty, Donna and Jan

 

IX. Reports

 

A. Finance - Michael Vilaboy

1. Michael said Temporal Affairs committee would meet next week.

2. Patty is on the agenda for the Temporal Affairs committee to discuss grocery certificates sales to help PSR families with the cost of PSR $40. Chris wants PSR families to feel part of the parish.

 

B. Staff and Committee Reports

1. Joe suggested written reports from Kevin, Chris, Jodie, and other committees be submitted to the Education Commission ahead of time so they can be distributed with the agenda prior to the meetings; members can read these documents and be prepared to discuss them. Additional time will then be available for other substantial issues.

2. Amy motioned and Patty seconded.

 

C. Religious Education

1. Chris Siciliano reported on the following programs:

a) "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us"

(1) This is a national pastoral plan to encourage parish adult faith formation.

(2) Our sharing cluster is hosting this program for our deanery and parishes around the Diocese.

(3) Education Commission is planning to attend the program as a group on Thursday January 18 and Thursday January 25 at St. Vincent Ferrer in lieu of its normal meeting. Sign up with Donna Patterson next meeting. Cost $7 per person due at our October meeting. Chris is also going to propose that Parish Pastoral Council may want to attend with us.

(4) St. Vivian is hosting several seminars as part of this effort.

(a) "Jesus course" with Al Cucchetti September 27, 28 and October 2, 4. Fee is $25 St. Vivian parishioners, $30 all others. To be held in the Ursuline Hall from 7pm. &endash; 9:45pm.

(b) "Introduction to Scripture" by Fr. Norm Langenbrunner October 5, 12 Fee is $15 St. Vivian parishioners and $20 for all others. To be held in the Ursuline Hall from 7pm. &endash; 9:45pm.

(c) "Fun, Fables, Tales and stories" workshop October 10 in the Ursuline Hall from 7:30p.m. &endash; 9p.m. fee $10. Workshop to help you share the story of our Catholic faith through children's Literature.

(d) "The Encouraging Parent" by Dr. Rod Kennedy November 12 and 13 in the St. Vivian Fr. Jack Filippine Center fee is $10 per person / per evening.

b) "Just Faith: A Social Justice Spirituality Process"

(1) This program, which is jointly sponsored with St. Ignatius as it was last year, has started but you may still join.

(2) See Chris for more information.

c) Millennium Peace Celebration

(1) Is an interdenominational day of pray for peace to be held at Xavier University Cintas Center at 2pm on September 24. The cost is $5 for adults, children and students are free.

d) Parish Mission

(1) November 6 &endash; 9.

(2) Speaker is Fr. Joe Ray, OFM.

(3) Topic is "Who are you God? Who am I?"

(4) Reminder: No practices or meetings during the mission

e) Advent Sunday Scriptures Series

(1) December 1, 8 and 15 - 9:00 a.m. to 10 a.m.

(2) Al Cucchetti is leading

(3) At Assumption

(4) $3.00 per session

 

D. Youth Ministry

Jodie Bender was absent due to the meeting date change.

 

E. School - Kevin Vance

1. School enrollment is up K through grade 8; there are 384 students plus 28 additional ones in the preschool

2. Accreditation is continuing this year.

3. Testing of incoming kindergarteners may be required by the state. Kevin talked to Charlene Ponti for advice.

4. Computer room is up and running (total of 24)

a) Computers are linked to office and library

b) Making plans to have parish and school community use the computers; more information to come.

5. Each school day there is an opening prayer and closing prayer

6. School theme, "Imagine a Better World"

a) Questions and thoughts to come home each month in the school newsletter;

b) September: "Respect: You have to give respect to get it"

7. Opening of School (continued discussion from July meeting)

a) Members observed that the packet pick up went well and that it facilitated the timely completion of paperwork.

b) A number of the members indicated that it was problematic to discontinue the Open House before school began, particularly for younger children, but also for those in junior high or who are new to our school. Several teachers held their own "open house" and students/families were invited to visit the school on their own before school began. Kevin noted that the teachers appreciated not being at school the evening before school began. Nevertheless, members who spoke all strongly felt that that the traditional Open House should be reinstated, particularly for younger students and those new to our school. It also gives teachers a chance to meet parents, albeit briefly. Should this plan continue next year?

 

8. Open House (continued discussion from July meeting)

a) Plans are still being made.

b) Follow your children's schedule.

c) Shirley suggested changing the name to better inform the parents.

9. Parent Teacher Conferences (continued discussion from July meeting)

a) Mr. Vance said plans are still being formulated.

b) Patty, Joe, Michael and Shirley would like more time to meet with teachers, based on their own experiences and conversations with other parents; recommend 15 minutes rather than the 10 minute timeframe enacted last year.

c) Mr. Vance is concerned with having sufficient time available within the current schedule; however, it was noted that in the past conferences were held for 15 minutes and that this is one of the few times parents and teachers have to meet without scheduling appointments.

d) Kevin reminded them that parents can call teachers for personal conference if 10 minutes is not enough

e) Kevin was asked to take the Commission's advice about the length of conferences into consideration in setting up this year's conferences.

 

X. Liaisons To Related Organizations

Joe	School
Amy	Preschool
Bill	Adult Education
Anita	RCIA
Donna	Youth Group
Patty	Lords Friendly Bunch
Michael	Temporal Affairs
Shirley	PTA

 

Liaisons were asked to make contact with their groups before our next meeting and to keep in regular contact so that we know their concerns and they understand our role.

 

XI. Guests Present

None

 

XII. Unfinished Business

A. Vision statement no longer is needed.

B. Social with Parish staff, teachers and staff and PSR teachers is being organized by Patty, Michael, and Amy. They will report back at the October meeting.

 

XIII. New Business

A. Revised Meeting Dates

Day	Date	Room	Time
Thursday	October 19	Rectory Basement	7pm.
Tuesday	November 14	St. Clare	7pm.
Thursday	February 22	Rectory Basement	7pm.
Tuesday	March 13	St. Clare	7pm.
Thursday	May 17	Rectory Basement	7pm.
Thursday	June 21	St. Clare	7pm

Ann will communicate this information to the Rectory Office, and Joe will share it with Jan and Jodie.

 

B. Donut Sunday October 8, 2000

1. 10 am mass Amy and Ann

2. 11:30 am.mass Anita, Donna, Bill

3. Patty will help clean up after 11:30 mass

4. Joe would like to go back to 2 donut Sundays

5. Ann was concerned about cost and not making it special

 

XIV. Adjournment

Patty motioned and Anita seconded at 9:15 pm.

 

XV. Next Meeting

Thursday, October 19, 7 pm in the Rectory Basement